【推荐1】There is plenty of complaints about how social media—texting in particular—may harm children’s social and intellectual development. But a new study suggests that constant instant messaging (IM’ing)and texting among teens may also provide benefits, particularly for those who are introverted (内向的).

British researchers studied instant messages exchanged by 231 teens, aged 14 to 18. All of the participants were “regular” IM’ers. The researchers analyzed150 conversations in the study, and reported the results in the journal Computers in Human Behavior. In 100 of these chats, the study participant began IM’ing while in a negative emotional state such as sadness, pain or anger. The rest were conversations begun when the participant was feeling good or neutral. After the chat, participants reported about a 20% reduction in their pain—not enough to completely get rid of it, but enough to leave them feeling better.

“Our findings suggest that IM’ing between adolescents and their peers may provide emotional relief and consequently contribute to their well-being,” the authors write. People who talk with their real-life friends online report feeling closer to them than those who just communicate face-to-face, implying a strengthening of their bond.

Why would digital commutation improve human contact? The reasons are complex, but may have something to do with the fact that users can control expression of sadness and other emotions via IM without revealing emotional elements like tears that some may be considered as embarrassing or sources of discomfort. Studies also show)that the anonymity (匿名) of writing on a device blankets the users in a sense of safely that may make people feel more comfortable in sharing and discussing their deepest and truest feelings. Previous research has shown that expressive writing itself can “vent”. emotions and provide a sense of relief—and doing-so knowing that your words are reaching a sympathetic friend may provide even more comfort Researchers also found that introverted participants reported more relief from IM conversations when they were painful than extraverts (内向的) did. As Susan Cain, author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking, wrote recently for TIME: Introverts are often full of thoughts and care deeply for their friends, family and colleagues. But even the most socially skilled introverts sometimes long for a free pass from socializing or talking on the phone. This is what the Internet offer; the chance to connect—but in measured amount and from behind a screen.

1. What is the finding of the new study by British researchers?

A．Instant messaging will harm children’s social and intellectual development.

B．Introverted teens may benefit from constant instant messaging.

C．A lot of American teens use instant messaging every day.

D．American teens aged 14 to 18 are addicted to instant messaging.

2. What can be inferred from the results of the study?

A．Teens are more likely to send instant messages when feeling unhappy.

B．Instant messaging can help completely remove teens’ negative emotions.

C．Chat via instant messaging services makes participants feel good or calm.

D．Constant instant messaging can help teens control their negative emotions.

3. What does the digital communication enable users to do?

A．Avoid embarrassment and discomfort.	B．Share and discuss more information.
C．Produce more expressive writings.	D．Find more sympathetic friends.

4. What does Susan Cain say about introverts?

A．They do not reveal their thoughts to friends, family and colleagues.

B．They tend to feel more unhappy about IM conversations than extraverts.

C．They are more skillful at the art of socializing than extraverts.

D．They at times desire to socialize or talk via social media.

【推荐3】During the first decade of the 21st century, a popular and new word has come into our vocabulary. That word is Facebook. This is the most popular social networking website on the Internet. There are about 350 million active users on this website. The main idea of Facebook is that you can keep in touch with all your friends around the world who has Facebook. In the 350 million users on Facebook, 67% of them are between the ages of 13-25. More than 35 million users update their status every day. 2.5 billion Photos are added each month.

The highest age groups who use Facebook are teenagers. Most of them keep the website running whenever they are using the computer and general teens nowadays are always on the computer, if they aren’t in school or when they aren’t asleep. I feel that teens should focus on their schoolwork or be socializing with their friends in person or exercising. Facebook is just changing the new generation of youngsters completely because the teenage life is one of the most important stages of life and wasting it on Facebook is not encouraging this in any way. It is also a complete distraction (分心) to their mind, for they would turn to Facebook just to check if there was anything updated among their friends.

Remember back in the good old days, when teens would do their homework handwritten, play sports and hang out with friends. Today, most teens would only speak to their friends on Facebook, while we can see them battling obesity as they stare at their friend’s message on their wall. In summary, teens don’t have a life because they are on Facebook 24/7, except for those who don t use Facebook or occasionally do.

Facebook is also where people can see the conflicts among their friends, virtual arguments, relationship status and updates, who is in whose ‘top friends, and so on. You can join groups, post pictures and videos, play games, and invite friends to parties. Mainly, all this would just disturb people into living life to its fullest.

1. The figures in Paragraph 1 are mentioned       .

A．to show Facebook’s increasing popularity

B．to present the influence of the Internet

C．to attract more teens to use Facebook

D．to prove our life pace is getting higher

2. Facebook influences teens mostly in that       .

A．it shortens teens, sleeping time

B．it encourages teens to change their life

C．it wastes teens, time and distracts their mind

D．it holds teens back from communicating with others

3. The author would probably approve the following teens’ behaviors EXCEPT       .

A．doing their homework handwritten

B．hanging out with friends more

C．battling obesity by playing sports

D．speaking to friends on Facebook frequently

4. What would be the best title for the text?

A．Facebook Wastes Teens’ Life

B．How to Live Your Life to the Fullest

C．Technology Destroys a New Generation

D．Modem Communications Brings about Problems

【推荐1】Many children are interested in dinosaurs (恐龙). If you have a child who loves dinosaurs, then here is some good news for you. There is an exhibition about dinosaurs at the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum in Wembley, Alberta. You can plan a family road trip there. Give your child a surprise and you’ll, enjoy your time there as a family.

Sitting just 9 kilometers west of Grande Prairie, the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum opened in 2015 and has collections that include fossils (化石) of sea animals, art works from different dinosaurs, a large family theatre, as well as an outdoor discovery fossil walk, a large outdoor playground, and the onsite Dine-O-Saur restaurant. Experience the dinosaurs’ world unlike before at all as you watch dinosaurs come alive in movies. Learn about how these animals lived and breathed.

You can check out Dinosaurs Unearthed and all of the other exciting exhibitions at the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum on the following days / time periods:

September 1st - May 31st:

Tuesday - Sunday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

Closed on Mondays

June 1st - August 31st:

Saturday - Monday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

Tuesday - Friday 10:00 am - 8:00 pm

Admission (门票):

Adults: $14 each

Seniors (65+): $11 each

Students (with ID) and children (5-17): $7 each

Children under 5: free

Family (2 adults and up to 4 children): $40

If you want to see a National Geographic film or a full-length film during your visit, it is an extra $2-$4.

For more information, please visit the museum’s website at www.dinomuseum.ca.

1. What can people do at the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum?

A．Have fun on a large outdoor playground.	B．Learn about dinosaurs’ disappearance.
C．Watch a foil-length film for free.	D．Buy some souvenirs of sea animals’ fossils.

2. If a couple in their forties and their 6-year-old son go to the museum, they should pay _______.

A．$28

B．$29

C．$35

D．$40

3. What’s the author’s purpose in writing the passage?

A．To introduce a museum.	B．To advertise an exhibition.
C．To encourage family time.	D．To tell readers about dinosaurs.

【推荐1】Few people can refuse a delicious ice cream, especially on a hot day. The only thing that stops the fun is that the treat is hard to enjoy slowly, ending up with a sticky, melted mess. Now, researchers from Colombia’s Pontifical Bolivarian University may have found an unlikely thing to help solve this age-old problem — a kind of fibre from banana plant waste.

Bananas, as you probably know, grow in groups on a tree-like plant. Each group is connected to a central rachis (叶轴), which is thrown once the fruit has been gathered. The team, which was led by Dr. Robin Zuluaga Gallego, began by abstracting /drawing out cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) from the powdered rachis. The tasteless fiber, thousands of times smaller than the width of a human hair, was then added to 100 grams of ice cream mix.

With the right amount of CNFs mixed in, the dessert lasted longer in its frozen state than the traditional ice cream, extending the amount of time that the treat can be enjoyed. What was even more exciting was that the fibre increased the stickiness of the low-fat ice cream to levels higher than the full-fat one. Since this is what determines the frozen treat’s creaminess and taste, CNFs could help create the healthier ice cream without influencing the taste of it.

The researchers, who presented their findings at the American Chemical Society( ACS) meeting in New Orleans in March, 2018, next plan to study how different types of fat, such as coconut oil, influence the behaviour of CNFs in other frozen treats.

The Colombian researchers are not the only ones working on creating a slower-melting ice cream. In 2015, scientists at the University of Dundee in Scotland found that a natural protein called BsIA was very effective in keeping the treat frozen for longer periods of time. With both teams fighting to be the first to get to the market, the future of everyone’s favorite dessert certainly looks bright.

1. What prevents people enjoying an ice cream slowly?

A．A kind of fibre from bananas.

B．The ice cream’s quick melting.

C．The ice cream’s stickiness.

D．The fat in the ice cream.

2. Why were CNFs added to ice cream mix?

A．To improve its taste.

B．To increase its stickiness.

C．To reduce its fat content.

D．To make it melt more slowly.

3. What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 3 refer to?

A．The ice cream.	B．The fiber.
C．The fat.	D．The stickiness.

4. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A．BsIA is popular in the market.

B．CNFs are more useful and expensive than BsIA.

C．Ice creams with CNFs have been on sale at the market.

D．Slowly enjoying an ice cream will soon become a reality.

【推荐2】Why elephants rarely get cancer is a mystery that has confused scientists for decades. A study led by researchers at Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI), at the University of Utah and Arizona State University may have found the answer.   

According to the results, elephants have 38 additional modified copies of a gene that encodes p53, a definite tumor suppressor, as compared to humans, who have only two. Further, elephants may have a more powerful mechanism for killing damaged cells that are at risk for becoming cancerous. In isolated elephant cells, this activity is doubled compared to healthy human cells, and five times that of cells from patients with Li-Fraumeni Syndrome, who have only one working copy of p53 and more than a 90 percent lifetime cancer risk in children and adults. The results suggest extra p53 could explain elephants’ increased resistance to cancer.

“Nature has already figured out how to prevent cancer. It’s up to us to learn how different animals overcome the problem so we can adapt those strategies to prevent cancer in people,” says co-senior author Joshua Schiffman, M.D., pediatric oncologist (儿科肿瘤医生) at Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine.

But Prof Mel Greaves, from the Institute of Cancer Research in London, says we should focus on why humans have such high levels of cancer. He pointed to the rise of unhealthy, cancer-causing behaviors, such as obesity and sunbathing. “You’ve never seen an elephant smoke!” he added.

According to Schiffman, elephants have long been considered a walking problem. Because they have 100 times as many cells as people, they should be 100 times more likely to have a cell slip into a cancerous state and cause the disease over their long life span of 50 to 70 years. And yet analysis of a large database of elephant deaths estimates a cancer death rate of less than 5 percent compared to 11 to 25 percent in people.

1. Why are elephants less likely to get cancer than humans?

A．Elephants are bigger than humans.

B．Elephants have more p53 genes and mechanism killing damaged cells.

C．Elephants are not as clever as humans in walking.

D．Elephants eat more than humans.

2. Which of the following can be the equivalent of the underlined word “suppressor”?

A．multiplier

B．complex

C．restrainer

D．coordinator

3. What’s Prof Mel Greaves’ attitude towards the discovery?

A．Doubtful.

B．Neutral.

C．Critical.

D．Favorable.

4. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A．Elephants have longer life than people.

B．There is no chance that elephants die from cancer.

C．The rate of elephants dying from cancer is increasing.

D．It was thought theoretically that elephants could get cancer more easily.

【推荐3】Do you want something different for dinner? Try some space food. Many scientists are living for months aboard the International Space Station high above the earth. It's too expensive to carry food to feed people living in space. Therefore, people in space will need to grow food for themselves. But how can they grow food without soil and sunlight?

Today, we already have hydroponic vegetables. The science of hydroponics is not new. Many writers believe that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were actually a large hydroponic system. This system could have used fresh water that was rich in oxygen and minerals for the plants. Hydroponic systems need light. In addition to sunlight, hydroponic farms can use artificial lights. Instead of soil, hydroponic farms use mixtures of chemicals to feed the plants. And in addition to a natural climate, most hydroponic farms often use greenhouses. One advantage of hydroponics is that diseases and insects that travel through the soil are avoided. Another advantage is there are no weeds to pull out.

Farmers know how to grow a few kinds of hydroponic vegetables, such as lettuces, tomatoes, and cucumbers. But in space, people will need to eat more than salad. So scientists are learning how to grow hydroponic rice, beans and potatoes. As they do these experiments, they are analyzing their results and examining how to apply these results to a real life situation providing tasty meals for space travelers.

The scientists make imitation meat dishes, such as carrot drumsticks, made from carrots, garlic, and bread, instead of chicken. How do these unusual foods taste? The scientists have been inviting a group of taste testers into their laboratories. So far, they have tested 200 different recipes. The carrot drumstick dish was a hit. Perhaps soon, people will eat meals made from hydroponic vegetables that are truly out of this world.

1. Why do scientists grow space food?

A．To reduce food costs.	B．To support space travelers.
C．To find new varieties of food.	D．To increase agricultural production.

2. What is a must to grow hydroponic vegetables?

A．Sunlight.	B．Warm weather.
C．Soil to grow the plants in.	D．Chemicals to feed the plants.

3. What is one advantage of hydroponic plants?

A．They don't get diseases.	B．They aren't affected by weeds.
C．They can grow in a lightless place.	D．They are bigger than common ones.

4. What is the author's attitude towards scientists' space food experiment?

A．Uninterested.

B．Doubtful.

C．Optimistic.

D．Cautious.

【推荐1】It was a beautiful Southern California morning. I walked through the parking lot of the shopping mall thinking of little else than my appointment with a pecan roll at the local bakery.

As I walked in front of the grocery store, I noticed a young woman with a sad look standing next to the store entrance with bags of groceries. As is my practice with strangers, I made eye contact with her and smiled. When I took a few steps past her, I heard her say, “Thank you for seeing me!”Her words brought me to a stop. Still smiling, I turned around and walked over to her, extending my hand. “My name’s Mark. What’s yours?”

For the next twenty minutes, I listened with attention to Dominique telling about her experiences. She had grown up in Louisiana where her mother and sisters still lived. Three weeks ago, a family tragedy made her make the move to California, where without contacts or the promise of employment, she had managed to create a life of purpose and fulfillment. After telling her story, she looked better and walked away.

With the pecan roll on my plate in the bakery, I looked at the people there. I nodded to the regulars sitting at their favorite tables, some reading the daily newspaper, and others on their laptops. I smiled while thinking about what I had just experienced with Dominique — a simple smile and a short time of listening brightened her.

Every person has a story to tell if we’re willing to take the time to listen. Greeting a stranger with a smile is a small thing to do and yet can have a great effect. I have found the benefit of doing these small things not only helps me keep a positive outlook on life, but also may even plant a few seeds of hope for someone else.

1. What did the author do in front of the grocery store?

A．He carried things for a woman.	B．He made friends with a stranger.
C．He greeted a stranger with a smile.	D．He was stopped by a woman in trouble.

2. After the author’s introduction, Dominique _____.

A．asked the author for help	B．refused to talk to the author
C．listened to the author patiently	D．shared her story with the author

3. Which words can best describe the author?

A．Kind and helpful.	B．Brave and patient.
C．Outgoing and creative.	D．Considerate and hardworking.

4. Which of the following can conclude the text?

A．No man is born wise or learned.	B．A small act of kindness means a lot.
C．A candle lights others and consumes itself.	D．Nothing is impossible to a willing mind.

【推荐2】On the outside, 12-year-old Luna seems like an average kid. It’s not until you get to know her that you learn that Luna is anything but average.

Born with a heart defect (缺陷) called dextrocardia, Luna has had three open-heart operations and continues to pursue (追求) her interests in art and fashion. But when Luna was approached by sport shoe company Saucony to design a shoe for sale across the country, it came as quite a surprise.

“This is so incredible. I got to use my art and creativity for something new that I’d never thought I’d be able to design,” Luna said. She is one of six patients from Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH) who have partnered with Saucony to design their own shoes to launch the “Shoes with Soul” campaign.

“Rather than just a donation, we wanted to create an experience and a moment that would raise not only money, but also awareness to highlight all the amazing work that’s being done at BCH,” says Chris, Saucony’s vice president. “Specifically, we wanted to give some of the BCH kids an opportunity to share their stories and their talents with the world.”

Luna’s design is fashion. “On the tongue, they digitalized one of my drawings, and then on bottom it’s a really bright pink color, and on the inside, the sole of the shoe is actually another drawing I did of a sunset,” she said. “Thinking about kids everywhere around the world wearing my shoes is amazing. It blows my mind.”

The income from the shoe sales will benefit the Boston Children’s Hospital Cardiac Fitness Program, which encourages kids to “find your possible” through personalized exercise programs tailored for each individual patient’s heart condition.

“It feels really good to help people and it’s really something I can relate to,” says Luna. “The advice I would give a kid or someone like me is never giving up. There are a lot of kids out there with your condition and you’re not alone.”

1. What happened to Luna according to the passage?

A．She failed to design shoes for sale.

B．Luna had over three open-heart operations.

C．She got an unexpected chance to design shoes.

D．She suffered from a serious heart attack after she was born.

2. What is the main reason why the shoe company partnered with the patients from BCH?

A．They had a talent for design shoes.

B．They had great interests in art and fashion.

C．The shoe company wanted to create a chance to display their talents.

D．The shoe company wanted to provide a way to donate money to them.

3. How was Luna feeling when thinking about her designed shoes?

A．Surprised.

B．Excited.

C．Stressed.

D．Bored.

4. What’s the main idea of this passage?

A．He who laughs last laughs best.	B．Where there is life, there is hope.
C．Helping others is helping ourselves.	D．Stick to your dream even if there are difficulties.

【推荐3】Uncover secrets of the world’s oldest civilizations and see natural wonders that will take your breath away. Through our tours you’11 encounter wild animals，see unbelievable landmarks and experience the local traditions of native tribes(部落).

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1. What will you do on Grand Morocco tour?

A．Have delicious French food.	B．Experience mixed cultures.
C．Walk across Sahara Desert.	D．Enjoy the modern civilization.

2. Why is Abu Dhabi so wealthy?

A．For the amount of oil.	B．For its special location.
C．For the tourist destinations.	D．For its personalized services.

3. On which tour can you experience all adventurous activity?

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